Ronda Rousey’s 12-game winning streak came to a close on Sunday when she was defeated with a brutal knockout by opponent Holly Holm. While Rousey’s loss came as a surprise to fans, it turns out that the 28-year-old fighter may have predicated the exact way she would come down.
During an October appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Rousey revealed that while she felt that Holm, 34, is a “nice chick” and doesn’t “have anything against her,” she also saw her as big threat.
“She’s undefeated and an amazing athlete and I think the biggest threat, definitely, to me, especially on paper and stylistically,” Rousey told Jimmy Fallon. “She’s the type of fighter that you have to be very, very patient with. I feel like she’s gonna try and like, keep distance and keep far away from me and get me frustrated until a point I’ll make a mistake and she can try and kick me in the head.”
Turns out, the kick to the head was the exact way Holm brought down Rousey, which left her briefly unconscious. The game was called 59 seconds into the second round. Rousey was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Before the fight, Rousey trash-talked Holm on Instagram, writing, “Fake a– cheap shotting fake respect fake humility bitch – “preacher’s daughter” my a– – I see through your fake sweet act now – you’re getting your ass kicked tomorrow, and I’m really going to enjoy the beating I give you #andSTILL.”
This article originally appeared at People.com
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com